South Carolina prison reform, Round 2: Lawmakers for ‘smart on crime, soft on the taxpayer’

"South Carolina lawmakers are pushing ahead with a proposal to cut the number of inmates in the state’s prisons.

But critics say the plan ignores the rights of crime victims.

If passed into law, a 200-page S.C. House bill with bipartisan support would offer nonviolent criminals the chance of early release from prison. Among other provisions, the bill calls for the automatic parole of nonviolent inmates who meet certain conditions. It also removes mandatory-minimum sentences for certain crimes, including some drug-trafficking convictions.

The proposal could save the state money and help address chronic shortages in prison staff. The cost of operating S.C. prisons has exploded. Meanwhile, the state cannot hire enough prison guards because, in part, of low pay."